News

Americans' Attitudes Toward Child Labor Are Shifting

In many of the world's poorest countries, child labor
is a serious problem, with an estimated 150 million children ages 5 to 14
working. Many children have little option but to work to help support their
families, and some are forced to work long hours in dangerous jobs such as
mining. Aside from the physical danger these children face, their prospects of
emerging from poverty are greatly diminished, as without an education, they have
little hope of acquiring the skills they need. In today's globalized society,
some companies choose to stock products made using child labor, but a recent
survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for ChildFund revealed that many
Americans feel strongly about choosing ethically manufactured goods and say
they would not buy products if child labor was involved.

Changing Attitudes

Child labor isn't just
unethical, it can pose a serious threat to children's physical safety and
well-being. In the Philippines and India, child
labor is still widely practiced, despite the introduction of several laws
designed to protect children from dangerous work environments. Even children who
hold jobs that are relatively safe are still at risk; they often miss out on
educational opportunities, either because they don't have time to attend school
or are too worn out by their work schedules to fully participate in
class.

Some companies have profited (sometimes unwittingly) from child
labor for many years, but attitudes toward this practice are changing. Although
the need to save money is often great in challenging economic conditions such as
those experienced by millions of Americans since the global financial crisis of
2008, many U.S. citizens are turning their back on goods and products
manufactured using child labor. In our recent survey of 1,000 adults, 77 percent
said they
would not purchase clothing or other merchandise if they were made aware
that child labor had been involved. In addition, many American consumers are
making more informed purchasing decisions and taking a more proactive role in
researching the origin of the goods they buy frequently.

"These survey
findings provide telling insight into Americans' attitudes about child labor and
should help companies understand that they need not make economic choices over
moral ones," says ChildFund President and CEO Anne Lynam Goddard. "I believe
that American consumers will become increasingly educated about the source of
the products they purchase and begin making more knowledgeable and ethically
driven buying decisions."

Working Together

Ending child labor is
one of ChildFund's top priorities in countries where this practice is still
prevalent, but we are not the only organization working to effect lasting
change. People like Kailash Satyarthi have been campaigning to end child labor
in India for many years, going as far as rounding up children who are forced to
work and helping them enroll in school. During his career as an activist against
child labor, Satyarthi has freed thousands of children in need from the bonds of
child labor, and today, he heads the Global March Against
Child Labor, a network of more than 140 trade organizations and 2,000 social
advocacy groups worldwide.

Ensuring that children have the opportunity to
learn, free from the pressures of forced labor, is one of our primary
objectives. Our child
sponsorship programs allow you to support children living in poverty by
providing them with the food, health care and access to education they need to
live more fulfilling lives. Just $28 per month will make a tremendous difference
in the life of a child, and offer him or her the chance to enjoy a true
childhood, attend school and receive other essential
opportunities.

Alternatively, your support of our monthly
giving programs helps us intervene where aid is needed most, from providing
schools with vital equipment to giving families the tools they need to grow
their own food. With your help, we can take a stand against child labor and give
families living in poverty the hope of a brighter future.

Accountability

ChildFund International has earned high ratings from Charity Navigator, the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charities Review Council.